What we learned from the Ducks' 4-0 victory over the Boston Bruins

The Ducks’ short-and-grinding road against East Coast teams ended in a 4-0 win over the Boston Bruins on Friday. It stopped a 1-3-1 slide that served as proof that their second-half push would eventually slow.

Here's what we learned:

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The goalie situation just gets more intriguing

Frederik Andersen got an unscheduled start in the wake of John Gibson’s illness and turned it into his fifth career shutout. Andersen has allowed two or fewer goals in 28 of his 39 appearances this season.

Gibson? He is second in the NHL with a 2.07 goals-against average.

With 12 games remaining until the playoffs, Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau will have to pick one as his starter … at least for the first game.

"It's something we don't even have to decide for another 3½ weeks yet," Boudreau said.

Boudreau said he's open to a two-goalie rotation in the playoffs but was mostly noncommittal about a topic that will likely consume the Ducks over the coming weeks.

Boudreau did note that "we've scored two goals in Gibby's last three games, and we seem to get more support right now with Freddie. But [Gibson has] been playing just as well."

The new top line has possibilities

The Ducks acquired Jamie McGinn because of his finishing ability, and that could be exploited beside Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. The line scored on their second shift, and Getzlaf nearly connected with McGinn on a long cross-ice pass in the second period.

"It's just a great opportunity to play with those two," McGinn said. "I'm just going to continue to look forward to working hard and just try to help them out and let them do their thing."

Help isn't immediately on the way

Boudreau said defenseman Sami Vatanen and center Nate Thompson wouldn’t be with the team to start the Canadian trip but might join them later.

Both are considered day-to-day. Vatanen has an upper-body injury and Thompson a lower-body injury.

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